Implementing Interfaces

In this lesson, we dive into the powerful concept of interfaces in Golang. Through practical examples, you'll learn how to define an interface, implement it using different structures, and leverage it to elegantly access methods provided by distinct types.

Defining the Interface

We begin by defining an interface named shape. This interface requires any implementing type to provide two methods: area and perimeter. Both methods must return a value of type float64, ensuring a consistent design across all shapes.

package main

import "fmt"

type shape interface {
	area() float64
	perimeter() float64
}

Any type that implements these two methods effectively conforms to the shape interface.

Implementing the Interface with a Square

Next, we demonstrate how to implement the shape interface using a square struct. The struct includes a single field, side, and implements the required area and perimeter methods. Notice how the method signatures exactly match those defined in the interface, ensuring proper implementation.

package main

import "fmt"

type shape interface {
	area() float64
	perimeter() float64
}

type square struct {
	side float64
}

func (s square) area() float64 {
	return s.side * s.side
}

func (s square) perimeter() float64 {
	return 4 * s.side
}

Implementing the Interface with a Rectangle

Similarly, you can implement the same interface with a rect struct designed for rectangles. This struct introduces two fields: length and breadth. The corresponding area and perimeter methods are implemented in a way that adheres perfectly to the interface's contract.

package main

type rect struct {
	length, breadth float64
}

func (r rect) area() float64 {
	return r.length * r.breadth
}

func (r rect) perimeter() float64 {
	return 2*r.length + 2*r.breadth
}

Both methods in the rect struct fulfill the exact signatures required by the shape interface, reinforcing the importance of consistency when working with interfaces.

Using the Interface

To illustrate the power of interfaces, we define a function called printData that accepts any type conforming to the shape interface. This function prints the area and perimeter for whichever shape is passed to it. In the main function, instances of both rect and square are created and passed to printData, demonstrating how a single function can seamlessly handle different types.

package main

import "fmt"

func printData(s shape) {
	fmt.Println(s.area())
	fmt.Println(s.perimeter())
}

func main() {
	r := rect{length: 3, breadth: 4}
	c := square{side: 5}

	printData(r)
	printData(c)
}

When you run the program, you'll observe that the printData function correctly manages both the rectangle and square types. This flexibility highlights the immense power of using interfaces in your Golang applications.

Summary of the Implementation

By harnessing interfaces in Golang, you create more modular, flexible, and maintainable code.

For deeper understanding, refer to Golang Interfaces.

And that concludes our lesson on implementing interfaces in Golang. Now it's time to get hands-on practice and further explore these concepts in your applications!